Device for applying tape to contiguous faces of rectangular objects



June V20, 1950 2,512,579

G. LONG DEVICE FOR APPLYING TAPE TO CONTIGUOUS FACES 0F RECTANGULAR OBJECTS Filed Feb. 6, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 `)une 20, 1950 G. LONG 2,512,579

DEVICE FOR APPLYING TAPE TO CONTIGUOUS A FACES 0F RECTANGULAR OBJECTS Filed Feb. 6, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NvE/vro/i- EORGE .LONG

C .O l

BY Q

June 20, 1950 G. LONG 2,512,579

DEVICE FCE APPLYINC TAPE To CONTICuous FACES oF RECTANCULAR OBJECTS FiledEeb. a, 194e s sheets-sheet s l 9' /NVE/vrom- B. I GEORGE LCN@ BY Arrr.

Patented` June 20, 1950 DEVICE FOR APPLYING TAPE TO CONTIGU- OUS FACES F RECTANGULAR OBJECTS George Long, St. Louis Park, Minn., assignor to General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,653 t f 12 Claims.

An .object of this invention is the provision of an adhesive tape holding and applying device for applying a strip of gummed tape to one or more objects carried along a given path adjacent the device, either by hand or on a suite able conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for applying Scotch tape or the like to the opposite sides of packages and particularly to taping two or more rectangular cartons together with perhaps a booklet, or the like, secured to the cartons by the same tape.

These and other objects, as hereinafter appear, are accomplished by this invention which is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Figure 1 is a partial top plan view of the taping device as used for placing tape on both sides of a rectangular package as it passes therethrough Fig. 2 is a partial perspective on a reduced scale, showing the taping device on the left side omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged perspective of the arm which applies tape to the package;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical elevation on the line 4 of Fig. 3, showing the mechanism for preventing withdrawal of tape from the taping arm;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged perspective taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a package consisting of two cartons taped together by four strips of tape.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a belt conveyor I0 running over a head pulley l2 keyed on a shaft I4 which is suitably journaled and driven by any suitable means, not shown. The conveyor belt carries spaced clips 20, 22 which separate as they pass around and below at the tail end of the machine (not shown, but which is similar to the pulley I2 at the head end) so that While separated, an operator can set two cartons as C, C in pairs, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, so

that they can be taped together so as to be sold in pairs, as will now be explained.

At each side of the conveyor belt is a table 30. the table at the lefthand side and its associated parts being omitted for sake of clearness. Above each table 30 are suitably supported two shelves 32, 34, as by means of legs 36, 38 which are located at both the front and rear ends of the shelves. Each shelf, as 34 (Fig. 5), has a stud 4 0 secured thereto and on this is Journaled il two armed lever. one arm 44 of which is connected to a spring 46 which tends to hold thel end of the arm 44 against a stop 48 on the shelf 34. Within the spring 46 is located a casing 50 in which is slidably fitted a piston 52which is connected through a rod 54 with the end of the lever 44 to serve as a dashpot to prevent a too rapid return of the arm 44, as will later be understood. The other arm 42 of this same lever carries the adhesive tape, as shown in Fig. 3, and this will be explained in detail. j

On the two armed lever 4l is mounted a hub 56 with a tape support 58. A' roll of gummed tape, particularly Scotch tape, 65rests on the support 58' and is rotatable aboutthe hub 56. This tape comes wound for different sizes of hubs. The hub 56 is accordingly made readily replaceable to suit different sizes of holes in the tape.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, the end of the tape 62 is led olf the roll 66 and between a peripherally grooved roller 64 and an eccentric roller 66 rotatably mounted on pins 68 and '10, respectively, on the lever arm 42. The roller 66 carries a lever 12 to the outer vend of whichl is attached a spring 14 so as to normally draw the roller 66 in a clockwise direction. Thus it will be seen that the end of the tape 62 when fed through these rollers will pass readily from right to left in Fig. 3 or toward'the conveyor I0 in Fig. 1, but that the eccentric roller will tend to grip it and prevent its withdrawal in the reverse direction. Grooving the roller 64 reduces its tendency to adhere to the adhesive side of the tape. The grooves preferablyrun peripherally so that the tape will pass smoothly over the' roller but couldbe arranged otherwise.

The end of the tape after passing the metal rollers 64, 66 with the'gummed side of the tape toward the grooved roller 64 passes' a rubber roller which is rotatably mounted on a pin 82 secured to the arm 42. 'Further on a rubber roller 84 is similarly mounted on a pin 86 also carried by the arm 42 but the latter roller isset back from the roller 80 somewhat for a purpose which will later be explained. The extreme end of the tape 63 extends beyond the roller 80 when severed, as will also later be explained, and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 when two cartons as C, C are moved up into contact with the ends 63 of the vgummed tape.

It willbe observed in Fig. 2 that there are preferably two spaced rolls of gummed tape to be applied to the righthand side of the cartons to be taped and, as shown in Fig. 1, two more rolls of gummed tape 60a are preferably' applied ally travels toward the outside of the carton' pressing the gummed tape around the corner of. the carton and along its outside. As thishappens the rubber roller 84 engages the extreme end 63 of the strip and presses it directly into contact with the carton as it follows the general action of the rubber roller Si); As the rubber roller 84 passes around the corner of the carton,

. the rubber roller 80 is lifted, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the roller 84 only is in contactwith the tape. As-'the tapedcartons ad` Vance, -theforemost carton @engages a roller 805 Whichoperatesa mi'cro-switch 92"(Fig. 6') which` is connected in series circuit' with asolenoid Sli-'andthence to a source of alternatingcurrent supply 41S; This closing of the switch SZ'energizes the solenoid, drawing itsl corev Se inwardly'and causing a'knife Hlslidable ina` bracket @Srtopa'ss 'between the rubber rollers severing the gummedrtape attire point thereo by' permitting the spring Ill'tcrieturn the arm 42 frcmthe dotted line .position cfFig. 1' to'the full-linefposition assoon as the-roller" passes the carton C.

Atvthe same time the d'aslipotv plunger `52 pre-- vents'the arm #2^ from going back at a'toorapid rate.

WhleFi'g. 61 shows onlya single solenoid connected to, the micro-switch' 32, it will* be understood' 'that the solenoids cf lthe arrangement shown in Figs. 1 andV 2' will preferably be placed in, parallel, so that they will allbe'operated Vsimultaneously on. closing the micro-switch7h The pressure required to` operate the roller Sii is. counter-balanced' by the guides ft2 of Fig. `1 which, together with 'the guidesjl', serve to properly align the cartons'as they passthrongh the machine.

In Eig."7 thegummcd` strips H0', I`IZ,"|'l-"a'ndv ll are preferably set opposite each other. It will be understood 'that various `arrangementsY may be used'for certain'purposes; Under some circumstances onetape strip in the 'centercn each side might. be sufficient. V'InFigJ 7,.'hovrever, applicant'has shown a booklet B'which may be sold withithe two cartons vlan :lsecured thereto by means of these gummed strips.

Another very important use for a single stripL applying unit is'that it may be used, alone to apply a gumme'd s trip'to a package which'the' operator holds` inA his hand' as he Wipes the'package past the device, forcing over the lever 112, and applying the gummed tape 'to'thepaclraga the'knife F00 serving as'before to sever theA gummed strip so that the gnxnmedstrip maybe thus applied' by a single rapid wipingaction of the. package past the gummed strip 'applying device.

For somepurposes it may be advisable to use,` instead of the switch 92"and` roller `\86,'a foot controlled switch of a type known to the art so that the operator may vary the length of the strip Vapplied at will.

While have shown and described-but a fewY The `bracketn 9'9 carries a guard`V itil which is preferably a `transparent plastic. f

embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A taping device of the class described comprising means for propelling an object to be taped along a given path, an arm normally extending into said path and pivotally and yieldably mounted at the side of said path, the arm carrying two rollers near its outer end, the outer rollerbeing setback so that the inner roller only contacts the tape until said inner roller passes around'the corner of the object when the outer roller contacts the end of the tape pressing it againstthe objectA and thence around the corner of the object pressing the tape into contact with the side ofthe object, means for feeding adhesive tape to said arm so that the adhesive side of said tape contacts the frantoi -said object asit moves-along said pathr causing i-tftoadhere:there-V to, means for preventing withdrawal-1to1? the tape asthe arm returns to its. initial-position.,- ysai'd means yielding as the obiect'- advancestopress:

the adhesive side of the tape around. tnesi-'deof'` the 'obi-Lect to cause it izo-adhere thereto, and

means operable by. -said. objectsior; severing `the tape after the object has advanced teiapredee. termined L point.

2; A taping-.deviceof' theclass: describedv comprising meansfor propelling an fobgect to/be taped along a given path, an` armvnormal'ly extending into said peti-rand` pivotaliy..andZ yield.- ably mountedattheside of. said path, the. arm carrying two rollersA near its outer end, the `outer roller beingsetbackA so; that .the inner roller only contacts the tape -untillsaidsinner roller passes around the corner ofV the object whenthe outer roller contacts the end of the tapepressing it said objectlior severing' the tape-.aitersthe object;v

has advanced to a predetermined point.

3. A! taping deviceof the. classdescribed comprising means fior propellingI am Y objects tot .bc-

taped along a 'given path, an/.arm normallyextending-'Vintosaidpath and pivotally andi yield-.-

ablyv mounted at` the side. or said pat-h, means. forcarry/ing a roll yofV Scotch-l tape. en said; arm` and concentricallywith its: axis, means for-feeding Scotch tape Vto, said arm fromrtheroll :softhat theadhesive sideof' said. tape contacts,y the front offsaid object asV it moves along said path caus.-

ing it/toladhere thereto, said means yielding,- `as. the object adv-ances- .to--pressthe-adhesiveLside.

4r A' taping devicerof the class described corn--A prisingnmeans for propelling an object' to, be taped' lalong a given path, an arm norrnally'tpcmv tend-ing intosaid path and-pivotallyfand yield--v ablyi'mounted' at the side ofsaid path, :tapeey engaging means on said arm, means for feeding adhesive tape to said arm so that the adhesive side of said tape contacts the front of said object as it moves along said path causing it to adhere thereto, said means yielding as the object advances to press the adhesive side of the tape around the side of the object to cause it to ad here thereto, means carrying the tape on the arm and a knife operable by a solenoid energized through a switch closed by said object for severing the tape after the object has advanced to a predetermined point.

5. A taping device of the class described comprising means for propelling an object along a path, an arm pivoted at the side of the path normally extending into said path and carrying two tape engaging members, means for carrying a roll of tape on the arm and concentric with its axis to feed tape between the object and engaging members, and tape cutting means severing l the tape between the two tape engaging members so that the outer member will engage the end of the tape when it contacts the object.

6. A taping device of the class described comprising means moving a rectangular object along a path, an arm pivoted at the side of the path and resilently extending into said path, a pair of tape engaging members on the arm, the outer engaging member being set back of the inner s0 that the inner member will first contact the 0bject as it moves along the path, means feeding tape between the object and the tape engaging members, and a reciprocable knife actuated at a predetermined position of the object along the path and moving between the two tape engaging members to sever the tape therebetwen so that the outer engaging member will press the end of the tape against the rectangular object.

7. A taping device of the class described comprising means for moving an object to be taped along a given path, a pivotal arm having one end yieldably extending into said path to press the tape against the object, means providing a source of gummed tape to the arm, a roller carried by the arm along which the gummed face of tape passes, the roller being grooved to prevent the gummed tape from adhering thereto, and means clamping the tape against the roller to prevent withdrawal as the tape is pulled away from the end and releasing the tape as it is pulled toward the end to be applied to the object.

8. A taping device of the class described comprising means for propelling an object along a path, an arm pivotally and yieldably mounted and extending into said path, tape engaging means at the outer end of the arm to press the gummed face of the tape against the object, means supplying tape to the engaging means, a roller carried by the arm and having peripheral grooves cut on the surface thereof to prevent the gummed tape from adhering thereto, and means clamping the tape against the roller to prevent withdrawal of the tape as it is moved away from said tape engaging means, and releasing the tape as it is moved toward said engaging means and applied to the object.

9. A taping device of the class described comprising means for propelling an object along a given path, an arm normally extending into said path and carrying two tape engaging members, the outer member being set back from the inner member, the inner member rst contacting the face of the object and passing around the corner to the side of the object to cause the outer roller to move against the face of the object, press the end of the tape against the object and then pass around the corner to the side of the object, and means for feeding the tape to said arm so that the adhesive side of the tape contacts the object.

10. A taping device of the class described comy prising means for moving a rectangular object along a given path, an arm resilently extending into said path and carrying tape engaging rollers, the outer roller being set back from the inner roller, the inner roller rst contacting the face of the object pressing the tape thereagainst and passing around to the side to have the outer roller contact the end of the tape on the face of the object, and means for feeding tape into the path of the object between the object and the rollers.

1l. A taping device of the class described comprising means for propelling an object along a given path, an arm resilently held in said path and having tape engaging means on the end, means on the arm holding the tape end between said engaging means and the object, means for severing the tape while the object is opposite the arm, and means for retarding the return of the arm to its position in the path after the object has passed.

12. A taping device of the class described comprising means for propelling an object along a given path, an arm pivotally and normally extending into said path and having tape engaging means on the outer end, means urging the arm into said path, means carried by the arm for holding the end of the adhesive tape between the tape engaging means and object to be pressed against the object as it moves against the yieldable arm, means for cutting the tape while the arm is displaced by the object, and a dash pot attached to the arm and allowing it to be moved freely by the object but retarding the return of the arm as said urging means returns it to normal position.

GEORGE LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,751,390 Brust Mar. 18, 1930 2,052,903 Stagmeier Sept. 1, 1936 2,068,914 Handley Jan. 26, 1937 

